Career and Education Opportunities for Respiratory Therapy Technicians in Newark, New Jersey

Respiratory therapy technicians can find both educational opportunities and jobs in the Newark, New Jersey area. The national trend for respiratory therapy technicians sees this job pool shrinking by about 1.1% over the next eight years. Respiratory therapy technicians generally provide specific, well defined respiratory care procedures under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.

Respiratory therapy technicians earn approximately $28 per hour or $59,000 annually on average in New Jersey. Nationally they average about $20 hourly or $42,430 per year. Earnings for respiratory therapy technicians are better than earnings in the general category of Healthcare Technical in New Jersey and not quite as good as general Healthcare Technical category earnings nationally. People working as respiratory therapy technicians can fill a number of jobs, such as: oxygen equipment technician, certified respiratory therapy technician , and registered pulmonary function technologist.

The Newark area is home to 318 schools of higher education, including eleven within twenty-five miles of Newark where you can get a degree as a respiratory therapy technician. The most common level of education for respiratory therapy technicians is an Associate's, or other 2-year degree. You can expect to spend about two years studying to be a respiratory therapy technician if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Respiratory Therapy Technician

In general, respiratory therapy technicians provide specific, well defined respiratory care procedures under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.

Respiratory therapy technicians ready and test devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, aerosol generators and electrocardiogram (EKG) machines. They also keep patient therapy records, completing all needed forms. Equally important, respiratory therapy technicians have to use ventilators and various oxygen devices and aerosol and breathing treatments in the provision of respiratory therapy. They are often called upon to administer breathing and oxygen procedures such as intermittent positive pressure breathing treatments, ultrasonic nebulizer treatments and incentive spirometer treatments. They are expected to explain treatment procedures to patients. Finally, respiratory therapy technicians monitor patients during treatment and report any unusual reactions to the respiratory therapist.

Every day, respiratory therapy technicians are expected to be able to listen to and understand others in meetings. They need to evaluate problems as they arise. It is also important that they articulate ideas and problems.

It is important for respiratory therapy technicians to furnish respiratory care involving the application of well-defined therapeutic techniques under the supervision of a respiratory therapist and a physician. They are often called upon to teach or oversee other staff who furnish respiratory care services. They also recommend and review bedside procedures, x-rays, and laboratory tests. They are sometimes expected to interview and examine patients to collect clinical data. Somewhat less frequently, respiratory therapy technicians are also expected to monitor patients during treatment and report any unusual reactions to the respiratory therapist.

They also have to be able to monitor patients during treatment and report any unusual reactions to the respiratory therapist and clean, sterilize, check and maintain respiratory therapy apparatus. And finally, they sometimes have to assess patients' responses to treatments and modify treatments in line with protocols if needed.

Like many other jobs, respiratory therapy technicians must have strong self control in the face of challenging situations and be reliable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Newark include:

Cardiac Technician. Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary-functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.

Sonographer. Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians.

Surgical Technician. Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon's assistants, hold retractors, and help count sponges, needles, and instruments.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Respiratory Therapy Technician Training

Middlesex County College - Edison, NJ

Middlesex County College, 2600 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ 08818-3050. Middlesex County College is a large college located in Edison, New Jersey. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 12,346 students. Middlesex County College has an associate's degree program in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist which graduated four students in 2008.

Essex County College - Newark, NJ

Essex County College, 303 University Ave, Newark, NJ 07102. Essex County College is a large college located in Newark, New Jersey. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 11,824 students. Essex County College has an associate's degree program in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist which graduated six students in 2008.

Hudson County Community College - Jersey City, NJ

Hudson County Community College, 70 Sip Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306. Hudson County Community College is a medium sized college located in Jersey City, New Jersey. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 7,525 students. Hudson County Community College has an associate's degree program in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist which graduated two students in 2008.

SUNY Westchester Community College - Valhalla, NY

SUNY Westchester Community College, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla, NY 10595. SUNY Westchester Community College is a large college located in Valhalla, New York. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 11,090 students. SUNY Westchester Community College has an associate's degree program in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist which graduated twenty-three students in 2008.

Brookdale Community College - Lincroft, NJ

Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, NJ 07738-1597. Brookdale Community College is a large college located in Lincroft, New Jersey. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 14,642 students. Brookdale Community College has an associate's degree program in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist which graduated twenty-five students in 2008.

County College of Morris - Randolph, NJ

County College of Morris, 214 Center Grove Rd, Randolph, NJ 07869-2086. County College of Morris is a medium sized college located in Randolph, New Jersey. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 8,441 students. County College of Morris has an associate's degree program in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist which graduated seven students in 2008.

Raritan Valley Community College - North Branch, NJ

Raritan Valley Community College, 128 Lamington Road, North Branch, NJ 08876. Raritan Valley Community College is a medium sized college located in North Branch, New Jersey. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 7,020 students. Raritan Valley Community College has an associate's degree program in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist which graduated one student in 2008.

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Newark, NJ

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 65 Bergen Street, Room 1441, Newark, NJ 07101-1709. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is a medium sized university located in Newark, New Jersey. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 5,589 students. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey has an associate's degree program in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist which graduated thirty-three students in 2008.

Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus - Brooklyn, NY

Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus, University Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11201-5372. Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus is a medium sized university located in Brooklyn, New York. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 8,459 students and an admission rate of 60%. Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus has a bachelor's degree program in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist which graduated twenty students in 2008.

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College - New York, NY

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007-1097. CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College is a large college located in New York, New York. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 21,357 students. CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College has an associate's degree program in Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant which graduated thirty-one students in 2008.

Bergen Community College - Paramus, NJ

Bergen Community College, 400 Paramus Rd, Paramus, NJ 07652-1595. Bergen Community College is a large college located in Paramus, New Jersey. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 15,283 students. Bergen Community College has an associate's degree program in Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist which graduated thirty-nine students in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

Biomedical Electronics Technician:
Biomedical electronics technicians are expected to obtain knowledge of the principles of modern biomedical techniques, the proper procedure in the care, handling and maintenance of biomedical equipment and to display an attitude/behavior expected of an electronics technician who works in a hospital or healthcare environment.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Newark, New Jersey

Newark, New Jersey photo by Gik%C3%BC

Newark is located in Essex County, New Jersey. It has a population of over 278,980, which has grown by 2.0% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Newark, 140, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in Newark are priced at $83,500 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, ninety-nine new homes were built in Newark, up from twenty-nine the previous year.

The three big industries for women in Newark are health care, educational services, and finance and insurance. For men, it is construction, administrative and support and waste management services, and accommodation and food services. The average commute to work is about 32 minutes. More than 9.0% of Newark residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 3.0%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Newark is 14.8%, which is greater than New Jersey's average of 9.3%.

The percentage of Newark residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 57.0%, is more than the national average but less than the state average. First Mount Zion Baptist Church, First Newborn Tabernacle Church and First Presbyterian Church are among the churches located in Newark. The most common religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Muslim Estimate and the American Baptist Churches in the USA.

Newark is home to the Clinton Branch Newark Public Library and the Brills Yard as well as Rippel Field and River Bank Park. Visitors to Newark can choose from Fairfield Inn and Suites, Days Hotel Newark Airport and Broad Street Hotel LLC for temporary stays in the area.